ICYMI in NFL's Week 7: U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi
Let's not write off the NFL just yet, no matter what the declining TV ratings say. Still, this was one long day of tedious, bad football that showcased various problems with the current state of the game.
All the ugliness concluded as Sunday turned to Monday on the East Coast with a "Can you believe that?!" 6-6 tie between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals after each team's kicker missed a gimme field goal attempt late in overtime. Even folks with an appreciation for stingy defense had to be face-palming at the way that one ended.
It all began about 15 hours earlier in London, where Case Keenum threw four interceptions - including one on a ridiculously amateurish miscommunication to thwart what could have been a game-tying drive late - in the Los Angeles Rams' 17-10 loss to the New York Giants.
In between, there were other duds that featured sloppy offense, tons of turnovers, plenty of punts and penalties, questionable coaching or various other instances of the sort of blah, take-it-or-leave-it, non-action that led Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden to refer to his team's 20-17 loss against the Detroit Lions (which was 3-all at halftime) this way: "It was kind of a snoozer there, for a while."
Tell us about it, Jay.
Or as Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said of his previously unbeaten team's performance in a 21-10 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles, a game that included a combined half-dozen turnovers in the first half alone: "'Embarrassing,' really, is the word, in at least two of the phases."
Could have been talking about much of the league, really.
In case you missed it, here are the other top topics after the NFL season's seventh Sunday:
NO GOFF: Somehow, Rams coach Jeff Fisher sees fit to keep trotting Keenum out there and keep No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff on the bench. No matter how unprepared he might be, Goff couldn't possibly give the team less of a chance to win than Keenum did Sunday - could he? "Jared is going to play when we feel Jared is ready," Fisher said, adding: "We didn't lose this game because of quarterback play." You sure about that, Coach? And even if it's true, why not get Goff some experience?
DOUBLE 200: Miami Dolphins RB Jay Ajayi joined some exclusive company by running for 214 yards in a 28-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills, making him only the fourth player in NFL history to top 200 on the ground in consecutive games. The others? O.J. Simpson - yes, THAT O.J. Simpson - Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams.
LANDRY'S HIT: Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry leveled Bills S Aaron Williams by launching into him and putting a shoulder into his helmet. The shot sent Williams to the hospital with head and neck injuries. "Definitely a cheap hit," Bills CB Nickell Robey-Coleman said.
GREEN'S CATCH: What a catch ! On an old-fashioned, close-your-eyes-and-chuck-it Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half, Cincinnati Bengals WR A.J. Green - surrounded by defenders - juggled the ball before corralling it with one hand while landing on his back in the end zone for a 48-yard TD in a 31-17 victory over winless Cleveland.
AT 43, VINATIERI GETS 43: Indy's Adam Vinatieri, still kickin' at age 43, made two field goals in a 34-26 victory at Tennessee, giving him 43 successful attempts in a row, breaking the record set by former Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt from 2002-04.
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